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enFootball's 11 most shocking tackles of all timeA quick peek at our run-down of footballs worst tackles is enough for most to recoil in horror well, unless your name is Harald Schumacherhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/11-footballs-most-shocking-worst-tackles
11. Benjamin Massing on Claudio Caniggia
Cameroon vs Argentina, 1990 World Cup
Argentina's flying forward Claudio Caniggia was not to make it through the Italia '90 clash with Cameroon.
At least that's what the Indomitable Lions must have been told in their pre-match brief. This particularly powerful body-check came after Caniggia's impressive 80-yard solo dash failed to be halted by an attempted block on the halfway line and another cynical Cameroonian lunge moments later.
Massing's effort ensured his team-mates' ambitions were fulfilled, however, as his rhino-like charge sent the Argentine, just regaining his footing from the last attempt on his life, slamming into the turf.
Amusingly, Massing then kicked out at an opponent blocking his route to his boot, lost in the clash, before putting it back on in the vain hope that the ref would allow him to play on. He didn't.
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Next page: The record-breaking World Cup final10. Nigel de Jong on Xabi Alonso
Netherlands vs Spain, 2010
There's something about World Cup finals that brings the worst out in players.
The Netherlands' hack hapiness was eventually punished by karma in Johannesburg as Spain lifted the trophy, but not before Vicente del Bosque's boys had taken some serious punishment. Referee Howard Webb was forced to dish out a record 14 yellow cards in the final, which eclipsed the previous record of six set in 1986.
Johnny Heitinga was sent off, and Mark van Bommel's hatchet job was particularly memorable, but nothing epitomised the dirty Dutch quite like De Jong's studs-up karate kick to the chest of Xabi Alonso. Incredibly the former Manchester City enforcer escaped a red card, with Webb later admitting that his view was restricted.
Next page: "The most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football..."9. Mario David on Leonel Sanchez
Chile vs Italy, 1962 World Cup
There are few matches that contain so many wince-inducing tackles that picking a 'most shocking' proves difficult. Then again, there aren't very many matches that are more commonly referred to as 'The Battle of Santiago'.
But the clash between Chile and Italy in World Cup '62 was one such encounter. It was a game that has to be seen to be believed; the British highlights introduced by David Coleman as "the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football, possibly in the history of the game".
The match was rife with shocking tackles, punches and police intervention. Giorgio Ferrini was ejected after 10 minutes, and Mario David followed half an hour later for kicking Leonel Sanchez in the head in what the commentator calls "one of the most cruel-blooded and lethal tackles I have ever seen".
It says something about the 'Battle of Santiago' that the referee, Ken Aston, was actually the man that revolutionised football's disciplinary system. Obviously harrowed by the events that took place on the field that day, it was Aston's idea to use red and yellow cards, and they have stuck since the 1970 World Cup.
Next page: Pre-meditated anger8. Roy Keane on Alf-Inge Haaland
Manchester derby, 2001
The roots of this infamous knee-high tackle were bedded three years previously.
A mistimed Keane lunge at Leeds' Haaland resulted in a cruciate ligament injury for the United skipper – an injury to which the incensed Haaland was, unsurprisingly, less than sympathetic. The Norwegian stood over Keane's prone figure and denounced him (somewhat vociferously) as a faker.
Shockingly, Keane held a slight grudge about these actions, and in the 2001 Manchester derby Keane saw (or, rather, plotted) an opportunity for revenge, ensuring this 50-50 ball had similar odds of then-City star Haaland being able to walk again.
A red card, five-game suspension and £150,000 fine followed, but hardly seemed a fitting punishment after the level of pre-meditation was revealed in Keane's autobiography.
Next page: "I thought he was dead"7. Harald Schumacher on Patrick Battiston
Germany vs France, 1982 World Cup semi-final
The iconic foul.
With the score at 1-1 in the 1982 World Cup semi-final, France substitute Patrick Battiston bore down on goal, chasing a long ball that had also alerted German keeper Harald Schumacher.
The two raced towards each other at speed, but neither backed out of this football version of chicken.Battiston was focused on the ball, and reached it first, firing past the onrushing custodian.Schumacher -–obviously the smarter of the two –decided to ignore the ball completely, and concentrated on surviving a crash by leaping and turning his body into his opponent.
Schumacher slammed into the Frenchman, catching him full in the face and immediately knocking out three teeth.Battiston was prone on the turf, toothless and with vertebrae damage, but the referee decided no foul had been committed and resumed play, much to the astonishment of players and fans alike.
"I thought he was dead," said Michel Platini, "because he had no pulse and looked pale."
Germany eventually won the game on penalties after a 3-3 extra-time draw, and when the goalkeeper was informed of the damage he had caused he simply replied: "If that's all that's wrong with him, I'll pay him the crowns."
Next page: Witless Axel6. Axel Witsel on Marcin Wasilewski
Standard Liege vs Anderlecht 2009
Derby matches are always hot-blooded affairs, and the clashes between Standard Liege and Anderlecht are no different. But this fixture featured one terrible incident that has taken their rivalry to another level.
The season before, then-starlet Axel Witsel was the hero who scored the decisive penalty in Standard's play-off win against Anderlecht that brought their second successive title. In this derby, however, he committed one of the most hideous football tackles ever recorded on camera, with a savage lunge on Anderlecht defender Marcin Wasilewski leaving the Pole with a double open-tibia fracture, and the watching world wincing, appalled.
An unbelievably lenient €250 fine and 10-game ban followed – one that was soon reduced to eight matches, much to the consternation of Belgium and most of the football world. To further endear himself to the Anderlecht faithful, the return derby saw him leap into another terrible challenge (on Roland Juhasz) and see red once again.
Next page: Lobotomy, anyone?5.Chris Mavinga on Carcela
Genk vs Standard Liege, 2011
Mavinga only played nine league games for Genk while on loan from Liverpool in 2011, but he certainly made his mark in his final appearance for the Belgian side – or, more specifically, on poor Standard Liege player Carcela.
In attempting to hook a loose ball out of play, Mavinga inadvertently swung a boot that almost decapitated his Moroccan opponent, leaving him with a broken jaw and nose that required surgery.
"I did not sleep well, I thought I had killed him," a distraught Mavinga said later– something his haunted victim attested to. "I realise that I've been very lucky," said Carcela. "Thank God I'm still alive. After all, I could be dead."
Mavinga never played for Liverpool and has since spent time at Rennes, Rubin Kazan, Stade Reims and Troyes. Carcela can be found hopping off the bench for Granada these days.
Next page: Romanian leg vs Souey studs4. Graeme Souness onGheorghe Rotariu
Rangers vs Steaua Bucharest, 1988
Calling Graeme Souness hot-headed is a bit like saying Donald Trump is divisive.
About two minutes into this video of Rangers' fine victory over Romania Steaua Bucharest, the Scot ploughed into his opponent's thigh with his studs raised, and a very deliberate downward thrust.
Skip to 1:55
While the offender may not be surprising, the offence is.The unusual thing about this particular incident is that the Sky Sports charisma-vacuum wasn't making a tackle. He had the ball at the time. That's right: Souness was dribbling, saw someone attempting to nick the ball from his toes, so nicked a chunk out of their leg before they got their tackle in.
He protested long and hard thathewas in fact the innocent party, rubbing his leg and showing the proof (or lack of it) to the referee.Unfortunately for Souness the ref had eyes, and promptly sent him off. Rangers went out on aggregate.
Next page: Thatcher's summer of shame3. Ben Thatcher on Pedro Mendes
Portsmouth vs Manchester City, 2004
The heat makes us all do funny things: we get a bit irritable, a bit snappy.It seems to affect some more than others, however, and Ben Thatcher is a fine example.
In the late summer hum of 2004 he went mental. During Manchester City's pre-season tour of China, his elbow caused Yang Chungang to suffer a collapsed lung, and less than three weeks later he became the most hated man in English football with a horrendous assault on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes.
As he and Pedro Mendes ran for a loose ball near the touchline, Thatcher intentionally led with his elbow, sending Mendes sprawling into the advertising hoardings and knocking him unconscious.Mendes needed oxygen at pitchside and suffered a seizure while being transferred to hospital, where he would spend the night.
Skip to 25 secs
The tackle was so bad that his own club issued Thatcher with a six-match ban on top the FA's eight-game suspension. He was also served with a 15-match ban suspended for two years.
Portsmouth's Matt Taylor echoed the thoughts of the thousands watching, incensed by the referee's decision to only hand Thatcher a yellow card:"How can that not be a sending-off? What do you have to do, kill someone?" he understandablyfumed.
Next page: "Ref, he headbutted my foot"2. Pepe on Javi Casquero
Real Madrid vs Getafe, 2009
There's seconds remaining in a clash with your local rivals, and you haul down one of the opposition inside the area. The scoreboard reads 2-2, and you could now be to blame for your side failing to pick up a point.
You're angry, and look around for something to kick –but all you can see is the opponent you felled, lying prone on the grass like a big bluepiñata. So, you boot him several times and stand all over him before giving his mate a little smack in the face. That's natural, right?
Real Madrid's Pepe thought so, shown a red card and escorted from the pitch by team-mate Iker Casillas after his savage release of frustration all over Getafe's unlucky Casquero and his buddy Juan Albin.
Unfortunately for Pepe, the Spanish FA didn't agree and handed him an eight-game ban ruling him out for the rest of the season. And if you thought things couldn't get any worse for Pepe's plaything Casquero, his spot-kick was saved by Casillas before Gonzalo Higuain scored a brilliant winner.
Next page: Grand Final, grand pain1. Commins Menapion Riki van Steeden
Waitakere UnitedvsAuckland City FC, 2007
Most people think New Zealand is a relatively soporific place. Shame nobody told Waitakere United striker Commins Menapi of the Solomon Islands before he unleashed this horror on Auckland City’s Riki van Steeden.
The Auckland player had been sent off in these two sides’ previous encounter – adding weight to the theory that strikers can't tackle – so there was definitely a feeling of unfinished business lingering in the atmosphere surrounding this New Zealand Football Championship Grand Final.
Menapi was elbowed in the head early in the game, which evidently left him seeing red. Twice, that is, after he was promptly dismissed for this foul and banned for six games. Steeden? A broken leg for his troubles.
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featureThu, 17 Nov 2016 15:27:42 +0000Joe Brewin40941 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFourFourTwo's 50 Best Football Teams EverWeve had our arguments, and now bring you our list of the greatest teams club and country of all timehttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-50-best-football-teams-ever
We’ve been thinking about running down the greatest sides of all-time for some time onFourFourTwo.com. So, each armed with our personal favourites, we gathered in a darkened room one evening to narrow things down. Deliberations continued long into the night.
In between the bickering, name-calling and hair-pulling, one thing became apparent –this list had to be about more than just cold, bare trophy hauls. Football is also about intangibles: how cool a team is; what effect they have on future generations; their aura. You won't find too many one-season wonders in this list, but there's room for a special few.
As ever, let us know what you think on Twitter (@FourFourTwo)or our Facebook page. Let the arguing commence!
50-41•40-31•30-21•20-11• 10-1
FourFourTwo's 50 Best Football Teams Ever
featureMon, 31 Oct 2016 15:17:39 +0000Joe Brewin645008 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Teams Ever: 50-41Our countdown kicks off with...http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-50-best-football-teams-ever-50-41
Words: Joe Brewin, Andrew Murray, Jon Spurling, Paul Simpson.
50. Leicester (2015/16)
You won’t find many one-season wonders in this list, but such was the magnitude of Leicester’s title win in 2015/16 that it’s hard not to give an acknowledging hat tip to the Foxes.
When we’re talking about the greatest teams, Claudio Ranieri produced a near-perfect one that achieved immortality in arguably the world's strongest league. How else could they have managed to topple England’s illustrious elite just 12 months after barely surviving the drop?
Sure, Leicester had their outstanding stars – Jamie Vardy had a direct hand in 36 league goals; Riyad Mahrez 29, while new boy N’Golo Kanté proved the seasonal revelation in central midfield. But their real strength was the collective bond that helped them eke out big results, week after week, when the pressure was at its most intense.
They separated themselves from good to great with 14 all-important victories by a single goal – five 1-0 wins coming in the six games from February 27 to April 3 – and beat Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham en route. Only two teams managed to return the same treatment all year.
In the end they won the title by 10 points. Tenpoints, for a team that needed six wins from its last eight games of 2014/15 to survive relegation. Surely their achievement – so unique it is– won't berepeated again. JB
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49. Saint-Etienne 1973-77
You’d probably assume that Saint-Etienne’s greatest team would be the one Michel Platini led in the early ‘80s, before he ruled Europe with Juventus. You’d be wrong.
Underpinned by imposing Yugoslav keeper Ivan Curkovic, Argentine monster Osvaldo Piazza at centre-back and with attacking inspiration from Jean-Michel Larque, Herve Revelli and future Spurs boss Jacques Santini, Les Verts dominated French football for a decade from 1966, winning seven Ligue 1 titles, five Coupes de France and reaching the 1976 European Cup Final.
It was at Hampden Park, however, that things fell apart for Rhone club. Beaten 1-0 by two-time defending champions Bayern Munich, Saint-Etienne hit the post twice. Just unlucky? Perhaps, but Hampden’s famous square posts have haunted their fans ever since, many of whom remain convinced that either Dominique Bathenay or Santini’s strikes would’ve gone in with the more conventional round goal frame.
In 2013, the club paid £20,000 to take the posts from Hampden Park’s museum, while a restaurant in the shadow of Saint-Etienne’s world famous cathedral is called Les Pochetaux Carres, or Square Posts. Oh, what might’ve been. AM
48. Chelsea 2004-06
Jose Mourinho took a typically firm hold of an occasionally erratic Chelsea team after grabbing the reins in 2004, and turned them into a devastatingly effective unit.
He mixed the best of Claudio Ranieri's team (John Terry, Frank Lampard, Damien Duff and Claude Makelele were already at the club) with those already incoming for his debut campaign (Petr Cech and Arjen Robben), bringing in striker Didier Drogba and centre-back Ricardo Carvalho withRoman Abramovich's petrodollarsto add a more physical and quicksilver edge to an already-talented team.
The Blues won successive, dominant titles in 2005 and 2006 (the former by 12 points, and only 15 goals conceded) with a brand of pressure football that earned them begrudged respect from non-Chelsea fans. Not that the self-proclaimed 'Special One' cared too much anyway, pointing out that he was in England to win silverware and not friends.
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The Portuguese’s team was devastating from set-pieces and simply refused to allow setbacks to stall its progress. This was never better illustrated than in 2005, when despite losing the Champions League semi-final to Liverpool, Mourinho's men marched on relentlessly towards the league title anyway. JS
47. Wolverhampton Wanderers 1953-60
Clad in classic old gold, Stan Cullis's uncompromising and direct team powered their way to three league titles in nine years from 1953 onwards, missing a hat-trick of First Division titles and the FA Cup-League Double by just a point in 1959/60.
As well as being a dominant force on the domestic front, Wolves also enjoyed some memorable triumphs in unofficial floodlit international thrillers at Molineux against the likes of Hungarian giants Honved, which hastened the inauguration of organised international competition.
With a heavy emphasis on fitness and strength, Wolves's method of pumping long balls out of defence for their forwards to chase may have been dismissed as 'kick and rush' tactics, but in their nine peak success years they plundered 878 goals and topped the century mark in four consecutive First Division seasons.
"Take the shortest and quickest route to goal," insisted the demanding Cullis. With legendary skipper Billy Wright barking out his manager's orders on the pitch, the likes of tiny winger Johnny Hancocks and midfielder Bill Slater ensured their places in Molineux folklore. JS
46. Hamburg 1977-83
Hamburg had always been on the periphery of German football elite’s, until two tireless workers came together just after the club won its first European trophy in the 1977 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Liverpool’s European Cup-winning star Kevin Keegan and coach Branko Zebec both trained ferociously, the latter so much so that his players were in open revolt after losing the 1980 European Cup Final to Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest.
Though it would be the Croatian manager’s drinking that marked his downfall – once saying “we have to win the next match” at half-time, believing the game to be over – the squad’s unflinching desire to run further and faster than the opposition brought three Bundesligas in four seasons, plus the 1983 European Cup against Juventus.
The constant was Felix Magath, Brede Hangeland’s future cheese botherer at Fulham, who fittingly scored a long-range winner against the Old Lady. It was a triumph for hard work everywhere. AM
Next: One list of teams Spurs finish above Arsenal in...45. Marseille 1988-93
Determined to be a star, OM’s owner Bernard Tapie – who once played Jack Nicholson’s part on stage in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – set out to mastermind France’s first European Cup triumph. And if that meant bribery, match-fixing and doping, so be it.
In truth, Marseille were good enough to conquer Europe without skulduggery. They lost the 1991 final to Red Star Belgrade on penalties but, two years later, coached by the astute Raymond Goethals, swept to the final where they out-thought and outplayed defending champions Milan.
At the back, sweeper Basile Boli (whose header won the 1993 Champions League), and centre-back Marcel Desailly protected the spectacular, if inconsistent Fabien Barthez. In the middle of the park, Franck Sauzee shot accurately from anywhere; Didier Deschamps single-handedly exhausted opposing midfields and Abedi Pele had the pace and skill to bemuse a defender as great as Paolo Maldini.
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The attack – German World Cup winner Rudi Voller and skilful, powerful Croatia international Alen Boksic – wasn’t too shabby either. Barthez, Desailly and Deschamp won the World Cup with France five years later. PS
44. Arsenal 2003/04
Manager Arsene Wenger was roundly mocked when, in 2002, he'd suggested it was possible for his team to go through the league campaign unbeaten. Yet in the following season, after surviving two early season scares against Portsmouth (the Gunners scored a controversial penalty to grab a point) and at Old Trafford, when Ruud van Nistelrooy's last-minute spot-kick clattered against the bar to allow the Gunners an escape with a goalless draw, Arsenal emulated Preston's 'Invincibles' and won the league (at White Hart Lane, as it turned out) without defeat.
At the heart of the team were Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira – 'the three musketeers' who provided the skill, guile and, in the latter's case, the physical strength – to steer Arsenal to the summit. The fast and incisive pyrotechnic football they played was breathtaking, and in Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, Arsenal arguably possessed the two greatest forwards in their history.
A chastening Champions League quarter-final defeat against an emerging Chelsea stung horribly, but in the league at least, Arsenal were untouchable. JS
43. Tottenham 1960-62
"We're going to win the Double for you this season Mr Chairman," Tottenham skipper Danny Blanchflower informed a sceptical Fred Bearman on the eve of the 1960/61 campaign.
When Spurs set a new First Division record by winning their opening 11 matches, putting four goals past both Wolves and Manchester United, it was clear that Blanchflower's prediction was no idle boast.
With strikers Bobby Smith and Les Allen notching goals for fun, the prodigiously gifted inside-forward John White dismantling opposition defences with his blind side runs and a rock-like Dave Mackay at the heart of midfield, Tottenham romped to the title with eight points to spare (in the days of two for a win) and defeated Leicester in the FA Cup final.
Spurs then added goalscoring machine Jimmy Greaves to the squad, retained the FA Cup and reached the European Cup semi-final (where they were denied in part by suspect refereeing), allaying manager Bill Nicholson's fears that they would be one-season wonders. Not for nothing was this superbly talented team known as the 'Super Spurs'. JS
42. Steaua Bucharest 1984-89
Truth is a rare commodity when it comes to former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s Romania. Yet for all the accusations of dictatorial favouritism that dogged Steaua Bucharest in the late ‘80s – including their lifting of the 1988 Romanian Cup despite abandoning a game at Ceasescu’s son’s say so – the fact remains that the Militarii went 104 domestic games unbeaten from June 1986 until September 1989.
Steaua were something like a Romanian Harlem Globetrotters, led by Victor Piturca and Miodrag Belodedici’s graceful sweeping artistry. If there was a player they liked, they just stole them. When they signed Gheorghe Hagi just for the 1986 European Super Cup, Ceausescu simply refused to allow the Maradona of the Carpathians back to Sportul Studentesc.
But to prove there was serious talent in this team, they also got to two European Cup finals, beating Barcelona on penalties in 1986 before losing 4-0 to Milan two years later.
That 1986 triumph summed up this fascinating side. Keeper Helmuth Duckadam saved all four penalties – later saying “if I hadn’t been a footballer I definitely would’ve become a psychiatrist” – but never played for the club again. Indeed, he vanished for three years amid rumours the Romanian secret police weren’t happy his penalty-saving heroics had earned him the bonus of a new car, and had cut one of his arms off. Duckadam had actually contracted a rare blood disorder. AM
41. Leeds 1968-75
In the Elland Road dressing room, manager Don Revie nailed a sign to the wall which read: 'Keep fighting.' His Leedsteam, combining ruthless pragmatism with a shimmering of skill, did precisely that as football entered the technicolor age.
This was in spite of their numerous near misses both domestically and in Europe which, despite cutting Revie and his tight-knit bunch of players to the quick, only seemed to stiffen their fortress mentality. After capturing their all-important first trophy in 1968 (the League Cup), Leeds went on to win two League titles, two Fairs Cups and the FA Cup in 1972.
Throughout an often turbulent and controversial seven seasons, the Leeds line-up remained as grindingly consistent as the team. Johnny Giles, Billy Bremner, Norman Hunter and Jack Charlton earned the team its 'mean machine' tag, while Peter Lorimer's spectacular shooting, Eddie Gray's skilful wing play and Allan 'Sniffer' Clarke's goalscoring exploits gave the Whites their cutting edge up front.
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Revie's men should have garnered more silverware, but after winning the '74 title in fine style, even Leeds's fiercest critics had to admit they were a superbly effective team. JS
Remember to come back throughout the week as we reveal the rest of our top 50...
50-41•40-31•30-21•20-11•10-1
FourFourTwo's 50 Best Football Teams Ever•More features you'd like on FourFourTwo.com
featureTue, 25 Oct 2016 08:59:53 +0000Greg Lea640787 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comGuardiola understands fans unhappiness over Hart situationOut-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is set to be replaced by Barcelona's Claudio Bravo.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/guardiola-understands-fans-unhappiness-over-hart-situation
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola completely understands if fans are not happy as club favourite and Premier League-winning goalkeeper Joe Hart heads for the exit door.
Out-of-favour Hart is set to be replaced by Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo, but the England international wore the captain's armband in his first appearance of the season as City advanced to the Champions League group stage via a 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest, sealing a 6-0 aggregate triumph.
City's longest-serving player after arriving in 2006, Hart - second-fiddle to Willy Caballero to open the 2016-17 campaign - was the centre of attention at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, with fans chanting his name in protest as they made their feelings known to Guardiola.
Guardiola acknowledged Hart's legendary status at the club but insisted decisions have to be made, no matter how unpopular they might be.
A special @ChampionsLeague night for Joe Hart and a proud one for Fabian Delph! #mcfc
READ: https://t.co/XbNcmK9B0w pic.twitter.com/rwFPO4pvkl
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 24, 2016
"From the beginning I arrive here with a lot of information and I analyse what I see on the pitch and off the pitch, especially in the locker room," said Guardiola. "All of them, I was really impressed how professional they are. Manchester City is lucky.
"I have to take a decision and I cannot deny what I feel. If the fans are not happy I can completely understand.
"I would like all my decision to make everyone happy but it is impossible.
"You have to take a decision to influence on the life of the players. We have 28 players – we can play 11.
"Seventeen players cannot play. Do you think they are happy? They are not happy with the manager.
"They deserve to play. When they are training not good, or are not good guys, for me it doesn’t matter. But that's not the case here."
news_articleWed, 24 Aug 2016 23:59:04 +0000Anonymous618346 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSix of the best for Gladbach as Rostov rout AjaxThorgan Hazard and Raffael will fight among themselves for the matchball after a special Champions League win for Borussia Monchengladbach.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/six-best-gladbach-rostov-rout-ajax
Borussia Monchengladbach were the night's big winners in the Champions League play-offs as Thorgan Hazard and Raffael each hit hat-tricks in a thumping 6-1 win over Young Boys.
The Swiss side already faced a tall order at Borussia Park after their Bundesliga opponents won last week's first leg 3-1, but Andre Schubert's men and his in-form wide attackers were in an unforgiving mood as they achieved the highest aggregate scoreline since the Champions League play-offs were introduced.
Hazard opened the scoring from close range in the ninth minute and Raffael seized upon some slack defending to make it two before converting Lars Stindl's cross.
There were assists from each of the goalscorers to one another as Raffael reached his treble first and, after a booming volley from Yoric Ravet got Young Boys on the scoresheet, Hazard also claimed his share of the matchball.
Four-time European champions Ajax were also heavy losers as competition debutants Rostov dished out a thumping 4-1 win in Russia.
Sardar Azmoun, Aleksandr Erokhin, Christian Noboa and Dmitry Poloz were on target for last season's surprise package in the Russian Premier League.
Late drama saw Copenhagen past APOEL in Cyprus as Federico Santander cancelled out Pieros Sotiriou's opener with four minutes remaining to snatch a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 aggregate triumph.
Dinamo Zagreb needed extra-time to complete their own turnaround against Red Bull Salzburg.
Junior Fernandes equalised in the 87th minute and five minutes into the extra half hour Soudani ensured Valentino Lazaro's first-half opener would count for nothing.
Steaua Bucharest lost 5-0 at home to Manchester City in the first leg of their tie and a second-half header from England midfielder Fabian Delph sealed a 1-0 win to continue Pep Guardiola's unblemished start to life at the Etihad Stadium.
news_articleWed, 24 Aug 2016 23:02:21 +0000Anonymous618326 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comGuardiola hails 'legend' Hart as Bravo wait in the wingsJoe Hart is a Man City "legend" according to Pep Guardiola, but Claudio Bravo's imminent arrival paints a bleak picture for the England man.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/guardiola-hails-legend-hart-bravo-wait-wings
Pep Guardiola acknowledged Joe Hart's status as a Manchester City "legend" before confirming the deal to bring in Claudio Bravo and seemingly end the England goalkeeper's career at the Etihad Stadium was close to completion.
Hart collected a clean sheet on his first appearance of the season as City progressed to the Champions League group stage with a forgettable 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest - Fabian Delph's 56th-minute header compounding the damage Laurentiu Reghecampf's side suffered in a chastening 5-0 first-leg reverse.
City's longest-serving player after joining the club in 2006, Hart was warmly welcomed on to the field as captain before the home faithful sung in protest against his seemingly inevitable departure, having fallen behind Willy Caballero in the pecking order and with Bravo incoming.
Guardiola maintained his stance that he has been honest throughout what Hart forebodingly referred to as a "situation" that needed a "solution" during a post-match interview, and the former Barcelona boss acknowledged his importance to City's run of success since ending a 35-year trophy drought with the 2011 FA Cup.
"I am so happy. I know Joe is a legend, I know how important he is for this club. I know what he did in this club," City's head coach told BT Sport
"He is part of the history and is still part of it because he is our player.
"In the Premier League and the cups… not just what he did on the pitch but what he did off the pitch.
"He knows, he knows when I arrived my decisions and what I think about that position.
"I am so happy about his performance and I like a lot when the people support him and how important it is. There is no doubt about that."
When the focus shifted to Bravo, who was photographed at Manchester Airport on Tuesday, Guardiola said he would seek clarification with director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano over the move being finalised as City await the Premier League visit of West Ham on Sunday.
"That is almost done, yeah," he added. "I think it's almost done. I need to speak with Txiki and Ferran but he was here [in Manchester] and I think it is at the end."
news_articleWed, 24 Aug 2016 21:41:43 +0000Anonymous618289 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEmotional Hart edges towards City exitAn emotional night for Joe Hart at the Etihad Stadium ended with him thanking Man City's fans and lamenting the a "circus" of speculation.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/emotional-hart-edges-towards-city-exit
Joe Hart did little to shift the air of finality around his appearance for Manchester City in Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League win over Steaua Bucharest, with the England goalkeeper labelling the furore around his playing future as a "circus" and a "charade".
Hart was an unused substitute for City's first three games of the season, with Willy Caballero preferred by Pep Guardiola, and his recall with City 5-0 up in their play-off tie from the first leg in Romania came with Barceolna keeper Claudio Bravo on the verge of completing a move to the Etihad Stadium.
The ground where Hart has plied his trade over a decade where City's fortunes have changed from also-rans to major title winners was a venue backed with emotion, as an uneventful game settled by Fabian Delph's second-half header became almost a sideshow to terrace tributes for the club's longest-serving player.
"That was a really special night for me," Hart told BT Sport. "I've had a lot of good nights in football but it was a really nice night
"We all know there is a bit of a situation going on but I feel that outside of the circus we are handling it well, as a good team with a good management staff.
"I enjoyed tonight. I'm really happy that we Fabian scored. He's scored a header, won us the game and put us in the Champions League.
"It's a special night for us and it's really nice night for me."
Hart appeared visibly moved by a sustained period of singing for him shortly after Delph's 56th minute goal and seemed to acknowledge his ongoing "situation" and the nearing end of the transfer window means this could be goodbye.
I've had a lot of special nights playing football, but the feeling and emotion I felt tonight was unimaginable. Can't express how proud and grateful I am. What will be will be but please know that whatever happens... This will never be forgotten. Thank you #onceablue
A photo posted by Joe Hart (@joehartofficial) on Aug 24, 2016 at 2:24pm PDT
"It does [bring a lump to the throat]," he said. "This is a special place for me. I've never made any secret of that.
"It's a place I'd love to be but situations occur in football. We're men and we get on with it.
"Tonight was really nice. I really appreciate the people of Manchester City and it turns out they appreciate me, so that's a nice feeling."
Hart's perceived lack of quality with the ball at his feet is widely understood to be a reason for Guardiola being seemingly ready to discard him, meaning the goalkeeper was able to wryly acknowledge his completion of 16 out of 16 passes on a routine evening
"Wow, pigs do fly, don’t they?" he said.
"It’s a situation. We’ve got a top manager that the club has wanted for a long, long time and he's going to have his opinion on things
"Outside of the charade and all the rubbish that has been talked, we're going to deal with it like men and come up with a solution.
"Tonight I played for Manchester City, I enjoyed every moment of it and I have done every time I've played for Manchester City."
Asked where his future lies, Hart added: "That's not for me to say. It is what it is."
news_articleWed, 24 Aug 2016 21:16:17 +0000Anonymous618295 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comManchester City 1 Steaua Bucharest 0 (6-0 agg): City ease through amid Hart-felt goodbyesFabian Delph scored the only goal as Manchester City won 1-0 to beat Steaua 6-0 on aggregate, but much of the focus was on Joe Hart.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/manchester-city-1-steaua-bucharest-0-6-0-agg-city-ease-through-amid-hart-felt-goodbyes
Manchester City completed the formality of qualification for the Champions League group stage with a 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest as Joe Hart bid a probable farewell to his adoring Etihad Stadium public.
Hart was restored to the City starting XI for the first and most likely last time under Pep Guardiola, who has preferred Willy Caballero in goal during the opening weeks of the season and sanctioned a move for Claudio Bravo, with the Chile international expected to complete the formalities of his move from Barcelona before the end of this week.
City's 5-0 romp in the first leg killed both Steaua's ambition in Manchester and the game as a spectacle, with Fabian Delph's 56th-minute header one of the few notable pieces of on-field play.
It meant much of the focus could fall upon England keeper Hart, whose every contribution was warmly applauded by the home fans from the moment he emerged wearing the captain's armband.
A lull in already unremarkable proceedings following Delph's goal led to a sustained period of singing from the stands in support of the 29-year-old, who appeared visibly moved by the reception.
City's longest serving player, who made his first appearance at this ground in 2006, had enough poise to save well from Nicolae Stanciu and Alexandru Tudorie before waving and blowing kisses to the crowd amid poignant moments at full-time.
While Hart's inclusion stole the pre-match headlines, there was also a first appearance of the season for Yaya Toure in midfield, while 19-year-old Pablo Maffeo made his senior debut at right-back
The City keeper's first touch and a routine pass out to Aleksandar Kolarov drew significant applause from the home support, while an uneventful opening to the match was soundtracked by chants of "Don't sell Joe Hart".
Kelechi Iheanacho warmed Valentin Cojocaru's palms in the ninth minute after having a pass fizzed into his feet by Kolarov, while Toure whipped a free-kick past the near post shortly afterwards.
Cojocaru made further routine saves from Nolito and Delph as the match ambled towards half-time.
Delph extended the Steaua keeper significantly for the first time 10 minutes into the second half as he surged on to a cute Iheanacho pass and the England midfielder broke the deadlock a minute later.
Iheanacho was involved again, cutting a pass back for Jesus Navas to chip in a pinpoint cross that Delph gleefully headed home.
Guardiola then took the opportunity to send on City academy products Tosin Adarabioyo and Angelino for Champions League debuts, with John Stones and Nolito the men to make way.
Hart seemed genuinely touched by choruses of "Stand up if you love Joe Hart" and "Once a Blue, always a Blue" but any notion of a tearful goodbye was put on hold as he sharply kept out Stanciu's free-kick and Tudorie's close-range attempt from the resulting corner - the sum of a belated and brief Steaua rally.
Guardiola's immediate concern will be an apparent calf injury that curtailed Iheanacho's evening but, for Hart and the fans he has played in front of for the past decade, this felt more like a time to look back and appreciatively reflect.
Key Opta stats:
- Manchester City’s 6-0 aggregate victory over Steaua is the joint second biggest recorded since the introduction of the Champions League play-off round in 2009-10.
- Indeed, it is only eclipsed by Borussia Mönchengladbach's 9-2 aggregate win against Young Boys achieved on Wednesday.
- Man City have kept four consecutive clean sheets at home in the Champions League (including qualifiers) for the first time; successively shutting out the opposition for 228 minutes.
- Joe Hart completed all of his 16 passes against Steaua Bucharest, the only starting player to have a 100 per cent passing accuracy.
news_articleWed, 24 Aug 2016 20:44:34 +0000Anonymous618277 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comHart set for City farewell against SteauaGoalkeeper Joe Hart will start for Manchester City versus Steaua Bucharest, making a 348th and probably final appearance for the club.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/hart-set-city-farewell-against-steaua
Joe Hart was restored to the Manchester City starting line-up for the second leg of the Champions League play-off clash with Steaua Bucharest in what is likely to be a farewell appearance for the club's longest-serving player.
The England goalkeeper has not featured in City's opening three matches of the season, with Willy Caballero preferred by new boss Pep Guardiola, who has reservations over Hart's capacity to build from the back and anticipate opposition attacks as a "sweeper-keeper".
The anticipated arrival of Chile international Claudio Bravo this week will dump Hart further down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium.
On Monday, England manager Sam Allardyce conceded Hart's lack of first-team football is a concern on the back of the 29-year-old's error-strewn showing at Euro 2016 and he can be expected to seek a fresh start before the transfer window closes this week.
That means Wednesday's match in Manchester, with City 5-0 up following a dominant first-leg showing, is likely to be an emotionally charged affair for fan favourite Hart.
He joined City as a teenager from Shrewsbury in 2006, making his first-team debut that October in a 0-0 draw at home to Sheffield United.
Loan spells with Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool followed before Hart established himself as the club's number one, despite competition from Kasper Schmeichel and Andreas Isaksson, during Sven-Goran Eriksson's sole season at the helm in 2008-09.
Although Hart initially retained his place at City under Mark Hughes, the January 2009 signing of Shay Given – four months on from the takeover by Sheikh Mansour that would transform the club's fortunes – meant Hart lost his starting berth and went on to spend the 2009-10 campaign on loan at Birmingham City.
His form for Birmingham helped him to win a place in England's 2010 World Cup squad and persuade Hughes' successor Roberto Mancini that he was worthy of replacing Given at City in 2010-11.
Hart instantly repaid his manager's faith with a virtuoso display in an opening-day 0-0 draw at Tottenham, in the process nailing down a spot in the team that would end City's 35-year trophy drought by lifting the 2011 FA Cup.
Premier League titles followed in 2011-12 and 2013-14, with four-time Golden Glove-winner Hart a standout performer at home and abroad, as he impressed despite City's less convincing tilts at Champions League glory.
They are all achievements that have counted for nothing in his brief time under Guardiola, however, with Hart set for one more appearance before becoming the standout casualty at the start of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach's City reign.
Yaya Toure, who played under Guardiola at Barcelona but is expected to join Hart in leaving the club, was also named in the starting XI on Wednesday.
news_articleWed, 24 Aug 2016 17:37:09 +0000Anonymous618233 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTamas: I'd take Stanciu over AgueroSergio Aguero scored a hat-trick despite missing two penalties versus Steaua, but Gabriel Tamas still prefers Nicolae Stanciu,http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tamas-id-take-stanciu-over-aguero
Gabriel Tamas acknowledged Sergio Aguero's quality after enduring a torrid night against the Manchester City striker but still believes one of his Steaua Bucharest team-mates can outstrip the Argentina star.
Aguero experienced a remarkable evening in the Romanian capital as he missed a pair of first-half penalties before netting a hat-trick in a dominant 5-0 Champions League play-off win for Pep Guardiola's side.
By contrast, Steaua's star forward and reported Chelsea target Nicolae Stanciu was a peripheral figure – unable to build on the form that brought four goals in five competitive outings this season heading into the match.
"Aguero is among the most difficult opponents I've had," Tamas told reporters.
"I played with other opponents who have given me more problems.
"Of Stanciu and Aguero, I would choose Stanciu. He is my colleague."
Steaua travel to the Etihad Stadium for the second leg next Wednesday.
news_articleWed, 17 Aug 2016 16:14:33 +0000Anonymous615009 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comGuardiola praises resilient hat-trick hero AgueroSergio Aguero missed two penalties inside the opening 21 minutes in Manchester City's Champions League play-off fixture.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/guardiola-praises-resilient-hat-trick-hero-aguero
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola lauded the response of Sergio Aguero, who went on to score three goals after missing two first-half penalties in the opening leg of Tuesday's Champions League qualifying play-off.
Aguero netted a hat-trick as City cruised to a 5-0 win at Steaua Bucharest, but it could have been more for the Argentine forward.
He was left frustrated from the spot twice inside 21 minutes after his eighth-minute effort was saved by goalkeeper Florin Nita, while he blasted his second penalty over the crossbar following David Silva's 13th-minute opener.
"The fact he missed the penalties is part of the game but it was important that Sergio stayed focused and didn't get down," Guardiola said.
"He focused on his game and after he scored three goals.
"It's not important how many times you fall down, it's how many times you stand up and try again."
Aguero did make amends four minutes before half-time, and he completed his hat-trick with a late double.
The 28-year-old, however, continues to struggle from the penalty spot, having missed four of his last five in European competition.
"I'm confident if he's confident. It depends on the players. If he's confident, for me it's not a problem," Guardiola replied when asked if Aguero will remain City's first-choice penalty taker.
City host Steaua in the return leg on August 24, after facing Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday.
news_articleWed, 17 Aug 2016 00:28:55 +0000Anonymous614696 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comChampions League Review: City rout Steaua in first-leg play-offManchester City opened the play-offs in dominant fashion, while Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb have their work cut out away from home.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/champions-league-review-city-rout-steaua-first-leg-play
In the first leg of Champions League qualifying play-offs, Manchester City all but assured their place in the group stage, thumping Steaua Bucharest 5-0 via Sergio Aguero's hat-trick on Tuesday.
Goals from Aguero and David Silva effectively settled the match for last season's semi-finalists before the interval, in Pep Guardiola's first European match in charge.
Although Aguero missed two penalties in the first 21 minutes, the Argentine forward still bagged his hat-trick in the closing 12 minutes, after Nolito made it 3-0 four minutes following the break at Arena Nationala.
Rostov claimed a surprise 1-1 draw away to Ajax, holding on to give themselves every chance of progressing.
Dmitri Kirichenko's Rostov claimed a vital away goal in the 13th minute, with Christian Noboa's free-kick finding its way past a flat-footed Jasper Cillessen.
Ajax got their deserved equaliser 25 minutes later, with Davy Klaasen converting the penalty after Cesar Navas' handball.
For all of Ajax's dominance with the ball, ending the match with 72 per cent possession, they could not play their way through a compact Rostov side, who head back to Russia with the tie in their hands.
Dinamo Zagreb continued their inconsistent form under new coach Zlatko Kranjcar, coming from a goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Red Bull Salzburg.
After a tight first half in which neither side could create significant openings, Red Bull took the lead just shy of the hour-mark through Jonathan Soriano, his deflected header wrong footing Dinamo keeper Eduardo.
Dinamo had the bulk of possession in search of an equaliser, but eventually equalised from the spot with 14 minutes remaining as Marko Rog dusted himself off to send Alexander Walke the wrong way.
Despite some testy moments in the second half, Borussia Monchengladbach eventually emerged from Bern with a comfortable 3-1 lead over Young Boys.
After a well-worked opener for Raffael in the 11th minute, Miralem Sulejmani's equaliser for Young Boys nine minutes after the break caused some panic within Andre Schubert's ranks.
Substitute Andre Hahn restored the lead, and calm, a minute after coming on before an Alain Rochat own goal created breathing room.
In Tuesday's other match, Andrija Pavlovic gave Copenhagen a 1-0 win at home to APOEL Nicosia.
news_articleTue, 16 Aug 2016 22:56:00 +0000Anonymous614646 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMan City clever to buy Sterling - GuardiolaManchester City manager Pep Guardiola heaped praise on Raheem Sterling following Tuesday's 5-0 win over Steaua Bucharest.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/man-city-clever-buy-sterling-guardiola
Pep Guardiola hailed Raheem Sterling in the wake of Manchester City's 5-0 Champions League win over Steaua Bucharest and believes the club were clever to sign the England winger.
Sterling endured a difficult first season at City after joining from Liverpool and also failed to impress at Euro 2016 as England crashed out in the last 16 at the hands of Iceland.
He put in a sublime performance against Steaua, though, setting up two goals as well as winning a penalty, and Guardiola had nothing but praise for Sterling after the final whistle.
"Sterling has a lot of quality, he's fast, has a good work ethic," Guardiola told reporters.
"He's a fantastic player. That's why Manchester City were so clever to buy him last season.
"Now Sterling is playing really good. But he's young and has to learn a lot."
City have all but qualified for the group stages after comfortably winning the first leg of the play-off tie and Guardiola was understandably pleased with their display, in which Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick after missing two penalties.
"We are almost in the Champions League [group stage]. That was our target," he added.
"It was a great performance, great attitudes. The result is amazing.
"I am so satisfied with the way we played - a big compliment to these fantastic players. All the managers in the world want to create chances and concede few."
news_articleTue, 16 Aug 2016 22:28:13 +0000Anonymous614656 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSteaua Bucharest 0 Manchester City 5: Aguero hits hat-trick despite double penalty woeSergio Aguero missed two penalties, but was still able to net a hat-trick as Manchester City recorded a 5-0 win over Steaua Bucharest.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/steaua-bucharest-0-manchester-city-5-aguero-hits-hat-trick-despite-double-penalty-woe
Sergio Aguero shook off two first-half penalty misses to score a hat-trick as Manchester City all but sealed a place in the Champions League group stages with a 5-0 away win over Steaua Bucharest in the first leg of their play-off tie.
The Argentina international had his first attempt from 12 yards saved by goalkeeper Goalkeeper Florin Nita, before blasting a second spot kick over the bar after David Silva's opener.
Aguero eventually made amends when he doubled City's lead late in the first half with a calm finish, with Nolito piling even more misery on the hosts in the second half to make it 3-0.
City rounded off an easy win and it was Aguero who had the final say with a late double to complete his treble.
The fourth came in the 78th minute as Aguero converted at the end of an intricate passing move by firing into the bottom-left corner, and he hit home his third in off the post to add further gloss to the scoreline a minute from time.
City survived an early scare when Nicolae Stanciu nearly took advantage of some sloppy play from Fernandinho, but they were in full control from there on and should have gone a goal up in the eighth minute when referee Daniele Orsato awarded them a penalty following Muniru Sulley's foul on Sterling.
Nita pulled off a superb save to deny Aguero from the spot, though, blocking his low shot, before Nolito crashed the rebound against the crossbar.
The Premier League side eventually did get the early goal they were after in the 13th minute when Silva found the net after some great work from Sterling.
Sterling stole the ball off Alin Tosca, charged forward and set up Silva inside the area, with the Spaniard coolly firing past Nita for the opener.
Aguero's poor fortune from the spot continued in the 21st minute as he shot high off target after Gabriel Enache had brought down Aleksandar Kolarov inside the area.
City were nearly made to pay for Aguero's profligacy when Jugurtha Hamroun popped up in a dangerous area after a quick counter-attack, but shot-stopper Willy Caballero - again selected ahead of Joe Hart - showed his class as he thwarted the winger.
Guardiola's men pushed hard for a second goal in the closing stages of the first half and it was Aguero who made it two in the 42nd minute. Goalkeeper Nita first frustrated Kolarov and Sterling, but there was nothing he could do to stop Aguero's placed shot from the edge of the box as he atoned for his previous penalty woes.
Nolito then all but put the tie to bed early in the second half, rounding the goalkeeper after a wonderful pass from Kevin De Bruyne before making it 3-0 to the visitors.
City and Aguero poured even more salt in the Steaua wounds courtesy of an excellent team goal 12 minutes from time, with the hat-trick and an emphatic rout then completed with yet another clinical finish.
news_articleTue, 16 Aug 2016 20:45:32 +0000Anonymous614630 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comGuardiola urges City to show Champions League classManchester City's lack of European pedigree should be a motivation as they begin their latest Champions League bid, says Pep Guardiola.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/guardiola-urges-city-show-champions-league-class
Pep Guardiola has challenged Manchester City to prove that they belong at the elite level in the Champions League.
Having failed to get beyond the last-16 in four previous attempts, City reached the semi-finals in Europe's premier competition under Manuel Pellegrini last term.
They departed 1-0 on aggregate after two uninspiring legs against eventual winners Real Madrid and a fourth-place finish in the Premier League means they must now overcome Steaua Bucharest in a play-off to reach the competition proper.
Ahead of Tuesday's first-leg in Romania – his second competitive game at the helm – City boss Guardiola told BT Sport: "I know how important it is for the club to be in the Champions League; now we are not in the Champions League.
"The way to go to the Champions League with the big clubs in Europe is to play with passion, with love in our games and our job.
"Manchester City reaching the semi-finals for the first time in history was a huge achievement.
"When you achieve something, okay, the next step is to achieve above.
"But in the Champions League and in Europe, Manchester City do not have a big, big history.
"It was just the first time [reaching the semi-finals]. You have to see if it was just once or if now it is our level."
Ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach Guardiola anticipates the latter outcome in time, even if he accepts the early days of his reign may see City repeat some of the inconsistencies evident during Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over Sunderland.
"[After Barcelona] I went to Germany with another club where you have to win. I know that feeling. From 13, 14 years old I live with that," he added.
"I need to feel this pressure, the people demanding that you have to win.
"I know, from my experience, it is not easy. In the beginning it will be tough. Maybe we will not have success and it will be difficult.
"But I am pretty sure, at the end, that we will have the success."
Guardiola once again selected Willy Caballero ahead of England goalkeeper Joe Hart in his starting XI at the Arena Nationala.
news_articleTue, 16 Aug 2016 17:50:12 +0000Anonymous614581 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com